Page 132 of Poison Aches

With the way things panned out with Samuel, I had to find last-minute accommodations.

Lucky for me, I met Jackson—the one Astraea and Kim are skeptical about—online, and he happens to live in New York City.

He hooked me up with an apartment without having a guarantor or paying any agent fees, which is crazy good for Manhattan.

“Are you sure this is it?” Ty questions patiently, but the way he looks at me through the mirror is a bit strange.

“Yes, I’m pretty sure.” I read the text again and then look at Ty. “A friend found me an apartment in this building.”

“A friend?” he says noncommittally.

“Yes.”

“Of course, ma’am,” he says and then we’re off.

Just then, a text pops up on my phone.

Melissa:Have you arrived yet?

Melissa:You are coming straight to the house, right? We have your room prepared!

A bubble of nervous excitement blooms in my chest.

Melissa is the daughter of the man who I’m here to meet. The man that might be my father, as Emmett correctly guessed.

At some point in my life, I realized that it might be possible that my brother and I were waiting for a man who might not have known we existed, so I decided to find him first.

By some insane coincidence, Melissa contacted me out of the blue and asked me if my biological mother was one Beverly Irving and she even asked me if I was born on the dates she had.

I was so stunned and surprised that I didn’t sleep that night.

She then proceeded to tell me that my biological father had been looking for me all these years and that I’d get answers as soon as I come to New York.

So, I shifted my entire life for this crazy mission.

I never wanted to study in this city, but I’ll do anything I can to do what needs to be done.

I don’t have much time anyway.

Me:Yes, I just landed. Thank you for your kindness but I have a place to stay.

As I send that text, Jackson texts me then.

Jackson:Are you here? Welcome to New York City! Did you get the new address I sent you? Sorry I didn’t tell you earlier, but I had to find another place for you temporarily. The other place is not ready yet. I’m so sorry for this.

Me:Hey! Yeah, I got it and it’s okay! So long as I have a roof over my head. I’m not picky.

Honestly, I’m not. Because if all goes well tonight, I might not even need the other place Jackson helped me find.

Jackson:Great! Do you need help to settle in? We can finally meet in person and grab dinner?

Me:Oh that would be nice but I have plans for dinner.

Jackson:That’s a bummer. Can we grab drinks for happy hour? I really want to meet you!

And I want to meet him too!

Seeing as it’s around three in the afternoon right now, I guess I have some time to meet for drinks and still make it to the placewhere Melissa told me to meet her around eight-thirty in the evening.

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